A WELL-KNOWN Southend musician has spoken out to encourage the local community to take a tour of a brand new soup kitchen set up on a Southend building site, in a bid to raise awareness and help tackle homelessness in the town.

The One Love Open Evening takes place tomorrow - Thursday February 22 - from 5pm, where live music will be on offer as well as refreshments, information, cake and homemade jam and chutney stalls.

Singer-songwriter Dave Livings, explained: "Myself and some other musicians are laying on some entertainment for the public to come and enjoy whilst getting information about the centre from the great team who run it, and finding out how it works. The idea is that it will be a place for homeless people to come along to have a shower, have a shave, get some support, get some hot food, and be listened to.

"There is clearly a growing problem with homelessness in the town, and we are trying to tackle this with kindness and intelligence, instead of having the attitude of just moving these people on.

"To my mind, this problem is getting worse, and we are about to slide downwards further. It's like a leaking tap - if we do not pull together to do something the problem is going to have a knock on effect, such as on the local economy. These people need somewhere to go. If they congregate outside local businesses then that may stop customers going inside. But where do they go? They need somewhere where they can get a bit of support, get clean, get warm and be listened to."

The One Love Soup Kitchen is situated on the Hollybrook building site, on Victoria Avenue. Guests are advised to enter the car park at the end of Great Eastern Avenue. It will run on Monday and Thursday evenings.

Dave added: "We are hoping with public support we can all work together to improve this situation and help people. We are petitioning that somewhere is created for them to go in the day to receive help, rather than just being moved on.

"More and more people in this day and age are finding themselves on the streets or hanging onto their homes for dear life, because so many people are living on or only just above the poverty line these days and just cannot get the support when they need it. It can happen to anyone.

"We need to help each other and put pressure on the right agencies with the power to do more.

"Myself and film maker Jay Laker would like to document this project on film, as another way of bringing attention to this plight."

The open evening will take place from 5pm until 9pm and all are welcome.

Donations such as sleeping bags, blankets, clothing, footwear, rucksacks, toiletries, tea, coffee and snacks to give to the homeless guests are being requested.